Discover my upcoming memoir, Where Did My Brain Go?, about recovering from a traumatic brain injury.

Great Day for Early Voting in Florida

Early Voting in Tampa, Florida

Today was the first time I voted early, before Election Day.

Florida enacted state-wide early elections in 2004. In 2012, 31.6% of Floridians voted before Election Day. It’s great!

Early voting in Florida provides an extra week to vote, but can be extended. Early voting began on October 24. Early voting ends on November 6, the Friday before Election Day.

Florida accepts 12 kinds of photo ID this year, making it easier for everyone to vote.

Where Can You Vote?

Enter your address at Get to the Polls to find early voting locations.

Deplorable Candidates Got You Down?

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are awful choices to be our next President. However, you don’t have to vote for a Democrat or Republican. You can vote for Gary Johnson of the Libertarian Party, or Jill Stein of the Green Party.

Write in Your Candidate

In 35 states, Americans can vote for anyone, by writing their name in the “Other” section.

Evan McMullin is leading the polls in Utah, and is on the ballot in 11 states.

You can join thousands who want to write-in Bernard Sanders, who was the only credible candidate this year. Learn more at How to Write-In Bernie.

Pick a Senator

Floridians must choose a Senator. We can re-elect Marco Rubio, who had the worst attendance in the Senate. Or vote for Patrick Murphy who lied on his résumé and voted to raise the debt ceiling instead of trying to reduce our deficit.

Two Florida Amendments

“No” on Amendment 1

A Tampa Bay Times editorial described Amendment 1 as:

Few efforts to change the Florida Constitution have been as deceitful as Amendment 1, the solar power measure on the November ballot that is about everything but expanding solar energy.

Florida Supreme Court Justice Barbara Pariente voted against allowing the Amendment to reach voters. Pariente said:

Masquerading as a pro-solar energy initiative, this proposed constitutional amendment, supported by some of Florida’s major investor-owned electric utility companies, actually seeks to constitutionalize the status quo

Curtis Silver, writing for my old employer Forbes, provided the best explanation:

That’s right, if you are getting free energy from the sun, the local utility company will charge you anyway. So what would be the motivation to go full solar if the utility company is going to charge you anyway?

Yes On 2

If you are lucky enough to live in Florida, you can vote for medical marijuana. Medical marijuana was rejected in 2014, because only 57% of eligible voters bothered to vote.

I appreciate the efforts of United for Care in promoting this amendment.Unfortunately, the amendment is flawed, because it forces patients to buy marijuana, instead of growing it.

Every American Must Vote

You cannot criticize the government if you do not vote.

37 states have early voting. Get out and vote.